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The best vegan protein powders for dairy-free strength gains
Shake up your nutrition with a delicious helping hand
On the hunt for the best vegan protein powder to hit your daily protein goals? Whether you're vegan full-time or you're intolerant to dairy, non-cow derivative blends are easier than ever to come by.
And, good news. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to supplement with plant-based powders and still pack in all the reparative, muscle-nurturing essential amino acids your body needs.
However, we do need to caveat, protein powder is not a dietary essential. It is possible to get enough of the macronutrient from your food, with no need to take it in liquid form, too. But, if building muscle is your aim, a supplement can be handy to ensure you hit your daily nutrient goals.
Want in? The Women's Health Lab has enlisted a panel of expert nutritionists to pull together the best vegan protein powders, Here are our favourites at a glance:
Why is protein important?
First up, it repairs your muscle tissue after working out and, with protein making up over 43% of your muscles, trust us, it's important. It also helps prevent chronic disease and keep you limber enough to perform necessary tasks, such as carrying the shopping and/or small children – although preferably not at the same time!
As one of the three core macronutrients, alongside carbohydrates and fat, making sure you have enough of it in your diet is crucial for your health.
How much protein do you need?
The NHS suggests UK adults should aim for 50g of protein per day. However, if your goals are to build muscle or adequately repair after a hard workout, you're probably going to want a little more than this. 'The ideal amount to consume at each meal is about 20g of protein,' award-winning nutritionist Anita Bean previously told WH, which would equate to around 60g+ per day.
Some studies, such as this Nutrients paper, have suggested that even those protein guidelines are too low, especially if you’re an active person.
'Those engaging in 150 minutes of exercise a week (or more) require around 1.2 to 1.5g of protein per kg body weight per day, and athletes will require even more', nutritionist Jenna Hope explains. So, for a highly active woman weighing 65kg, she should aim for between 78g and 97.5g of protein per day.
Which protein powders are vegan?
With all the snazzy packaging and huge range of flavours, it can be hard to work out exactly which protein powders are vegan. However, there is a wide variety available on the market – all from different plant-based sources. Here's what to look for.
Vegan protein powders
- Pea
- Hemp
- Brown rice
- Soy
- Pumpkin seed
- Sunflower seed
- Chia seed
Non-vegan protein powders
- Whey (from cow's milk)
- Casein (from cow's milk)
- Egg
How we test
As part of the 2024 Women’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards, the WH Lab sourced a range of vegan protein powders from the buzziest brands and presented them to a panel of sports nutritionists, including Rob Hobson, Tai Ibitoye, Lee Amico and Dr Sinead Roberts.
They judged each protein powder based on its nutritional make-up, quality of ingredients and formulation in line with its intended use. Only the products that met their exacting standards were put forward for further testing.
Then, back in the lab, our editors and in-house experts rated each for its taste, texture and ease of use. To keep things fair, identifiable packaging was removed, and instructions were followed precisely.
We collated all the feedback before awarding each plant-based protein a final score – you'll find the Sports Nutrition Awards logo beside our winners below.
Our WH editors, who certainly know a thing or two about protein supps, have also recommended some of their favourite plant-based powders, so you're bound to find one you like.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the results...
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Angela is our Head of Testing managing all categories from Food & Drink to Homes. She has over 14 years’ food industry experience, helping companies such as Sainsbury’s, Pret, Nando’s and Leon achieve sustainable growth through innovative product development – and she’s even cooked for Heston Blumenthal! Her sensory evaluation training and finely honed taste buds means she knows exactly what’s worth spending money on. She led the food and drink testing team, who test more than 1,000 products each year, for seven years. Angela is WSET wine level 2 certified and has been a judge five years in a row for the British Sandwich Awards and the Pizza and Pasta Awards.
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Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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